Gospel: April 22, 2015

on: April 22, 2015

Jn 6:35–40

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty. Nevertheless, as I said, you refuse to believe, even when you have seen. Yet all those whom the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me, I shall not turn away. For I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of the One who sent me.

And the will of him who sent me is that I lose nothing of what he has given me, but instead that I raise it up on the last day. This is the will of the Father, that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall live eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

REFLECTION

It is believed that humans can go on for weeks without food and a week without water. There is an interdependence that exists between water and food. It is further contended that defective management of water supply has a disastrous effect on agriculture, and vice versa. Increasing consumption of water and food disrupts the already fragile ecosystem, resulting into global warming. Thus, irresponsible use of water (five million people die every year from illnesses caused by poor quality of drinking water) and devil-may-care attitude toward food (925 million people are chronically hungry) have a boomerang effect on humans.

However, concern for natural food and water should not distract every person to seek for everlasting breadanddrink. After all the wonders and miracles Jesus had wrought, still some of his contemporaries refused to believe. It is still true today. If the world is zealously concerned for its starving and thirsty inhabitants, should it not be more solicitous for what is heavenly? Rather than prick the conscience of those who don’t go beyond material sustenance, communicants should search theirs if they show by examples what they receive. After all, “You are what you eat!” (Augustine)